IBM Assigned Nineteen Patents

Reliable data reading with data set screening by error injection
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,608,670) developed by Bui, Nhan X., Tucson, AZ, Masuda, Setsuko, Tanaka, Keisuke, Tokyo, Japan, and Tsuruta, Kazuhiro, Kanagawa, Japan, for a “reliable data reading with data set screening by error injection.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “According to one embodiment, a method for processing data includes determining whether a PES is invalid while reading data from a magnetic medium using at least one data channel, determining whether a PES value is above a first predetermined threshold when the PES is valid, injecting error bits into a data stream in place of corresponding bits of decoded data when the PES is invalid and/or the PES value is above the first predetermined threshold, decoding the data using a run-length limited, (RLL) decoder to produce the decoded data based on the data from the magnetic medium, and outputting the data stream. Other methods, systems, and tape drives for processing data using error injection are described in more embodiments.“

The patent application was filed on July 14, 2014 (14/331,184).

Magnetic head and system having offset arrays
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,607,639) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, Herget, Philipp, San Jose, CA, and Lo, Calvin S., Saratoga, CA, for a “magnetic head and system having offset arrays.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes at least two modules, each of the modules having an array of transducers, wherein the at least two modules are fixed relative to each other, wherein an axis of each array is defined between opposite ends thereof, wherein the axes of the arrays are oriented about parallel to each other, wherein the array of a first of the modules is offset from the array of a second of the modules in a first direction parallel to the axis of the array of the second module such that the transducers of the first module are about aligned with the transducers of the second module in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross, and a mechanism for orienting the modules about an axis orthogonal to the plane in which the arrays reside to control a transducer pitch presented to a tape.“

The patent application was filed on September 21, 2015 (14/860,522).

Tape-managed partition support for effective workload allocation and space management
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,606,930) developed by Iwasaki, Norie, Katori, Katsuyoshi, Kanagawa, Japan, Masuda, Koichi, Kanagawa-ken, Japan, and Swingler, Joseph M., Tucson, AZ, for a “tape-managed partition support for effective workload allocation and space management.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In one embodiment, a system includes a disk cache and a controller configured to create a cache resident partition in the disk cache, the cache resident partition being configured to store data thereto that is not subject to HSM, manage the cache resident partition to have a size that is greater than a first minimum size and less than or equal to a total size of the disk cache, receive data to store to the disk cache, store the data to the cache resident partition at least initially, create tape-managed partitions in the disk cache, each of the tape-managed partitions being configured to store data that is subject to HSM, and manage the tape-managed partitions to have a size that is greater than a second minimum size and less than or equal to a total size of the disk cache less a size of all other partitions combined.“

The patent application was filed on August 5, 2014 (14/452,406).

Asynchronous tape backup and restore from tape backup in disk storage environment
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,606,749) developed by Crawford, Joshua J., Jennas, II, Paul A., Tucson, AZ, Peipelman, Jason L., Austin, TX, and Ward, Matthew J., Vail, AZ, for a “asynchronous tape backup and restore from tape backup in a disk storage environment.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A first metadata object identifying a set of disk locations which have been written to since a previous consistency group is maintained. Backup data for the consistency group is written. Writing backup data for the consistency group includes identifying a disk location from the set of disk locations, generating a record containing the disk location, data stored at the disk location, and a consistency group value identifying the consistency group, writing the record to a record location in tape storage, and modifying a second metadata object to indicate that the record location contains the record. Records written to tape storage can be used to restore data to disk storage for a given consistency group.“

The patent application was filed on July 19, 2016 (15/213,597).

Linear recording device
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,601,141) developed by Shiratori, Toshiyuki, Tokyo, Japan, and Taguchi, Kohei, Yokohama, Japan, for a “linear recording device for executing optimum writing upon receipt of series of commands including mixed read and write commands and a method for executing the same.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A tape recording device, method, and computer program product are provided for performing operations of position movement, reading, and writing on a tape medium, and receiving a series of commands from an upper-layer device. The tape recording device includes a buffer for temporarily storing data related to the reading and an append write, a tape for recording the data stored in the buffer, a reading and writing head for reading data from the tape into the buffer and writing the data onto the tape, control means for reading data from a designated position of the tape and storing the data in the buffer, and for writing the data stored in the buffer onto the tape from a written data end position in response to an append write command, and a non-volatile memory for storing data stored in the buffer in response to an append write command.“

The patent application was filed on January 19, 2015 (14/599,690).

Efficient multichannel data format using variable-length headers
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,595,301) developed by Bentley, Steven R., Tucson, AZ, Cideciyan, Roy D., Rueschlikon, Switzerland, Furrer, Simeon, Altdorf, Switzerland, and Ohtani, Kenji, Fujisawa, Japan, for a “efficient multichannel data format using variable-length headers.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In one embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se. The program instructions are executable by a tape drive to cause the tape drive to perform a method. The method includes writing data to a first write section of a magnetic tape, at least some of the data being written in association with first headers. The method also includes selecting some of the data for rewrite based on detected errors. Moreover, the method includes rewriting the selected data to a rewrite section of the magnetic tape, the rewritten data being written in association with rewrite headers. A length of each of the rewrite headers is greater than a length of each of the first headers.“

The patent application was filed on March 23, 2016 (15/078,983).

Columnar data storage on tape partition
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,595,291) developed by Kawamura, Kousei, Masuda, Koichi, Tokyo, Japan, Matsui, Sosuke, Higashimurayama, Japan, Oishi, Yutaka, Kawasaki, Japan, and Tsuda, Takahiro, Tokyo, Japan, for a “columnar data storage on tape partition.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for writing data from a table to a tape includes setting a number of partitions on the tape, where the number of partitions is greater than or equal to a number of columns of the table to be written to the tape, and writing data from each column of the table to at least one partition of the tape, the at least one partition including two or more wraps, the data is written from a top of the two or more wraps towards a bottom of the two or more wraps in a direction of a width of the at least one partition. The written data is reciprocated from a beginning of the tape to an end of the tape in a longitudinal direction of the tape such that writing of a last data entry of one column ends at a beginning of the two or more wraps.“

The patent application was filed on April 27, 2016 (15/139,384).

Magnetic head and system having offset arrays
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,595,276) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, Herget, Philipp, San Jose, CA, and Lo, Calvin S., Saratoga, CA, for a “magnetic head and system having offset arrays.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In one embodiment, an apparatus includes at least first and second modules, a mechanism for orienting the modules to control a transducer pitch presented to a tape, and a controller physically configured to determine a state of expansion of the tape based on a readback signal from the tape. Each of the modules have an array of transducers. The first and second modules are fixed relative to each other. The transducers of the first module are about aligned with the transducers of the second module in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross when longitudinal axes of the arrays are oriented at an angle greater than 0.2.degree. relative to a line oriented perpendicular to the intended direction of tape travel. The controller is physically configured to control the mechanism for altering the angle of the modules away from the nominal angle based on the state of expansion of the tape.“

The patent application was filed on October 27, 2015 (14/924,622).

Iterative decode and post-decode microcode cut and paste optimization
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,594,642) developed by Bentley, Steven R., Nylander-Hill, Pamela R., Tucson, AZ, and Tanaka, Keisuke, Tokyo, Japan, for a “iterative decode and post-decode microcode cut and paste optimization.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Various embodiments for data error recovery in a tape storage system, by a processor device, are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises, in a tape storage system using a hardware-initiated and microcode-initiated iterative decoder, initializing a microcode cut/paste algorithm on a buffered dataset by copying the buffered dataset to a reserved buffer segment, wherein the buffered dataset is a most corrected buffered dataset developed by at least one iterative decode cycle, and the buffered dataset, updated C1 data row error flags, and a correction status recovered by the at least one iterative decode cycle are cut and pasted over a working copy of a dataset resident in the reserved buffer segment.“

The patent application was filed on January 5, 2016 (14/987,950).

Microcode data recovery strategies for use of iterative decode
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,584,162) developed by Bentley, Steven R., and Nylander-Hill, Pamela R., Tucson, AZ, for a “microcode data recovery strategies for use of iterative decode.“

The patent application was filed on January 5, 2016 (14/987,935).

Miniskirt tape head having quasi-statically tilted transducer arrays
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,576,596) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, and Lo, Calvin S., Saratoga, CA, for a “miniskirt tape head having quasi-statically tilted transducer arrays.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion together providing a tape bearing surface. The first portion has an opening at least partially encircling the second portion. The second portion has two modules, each module having at least one array of transducers. Each module has a first outermost edge oriented orthogonally to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross, and a second outermost edge opposite the first edge, the second edge being oriented at an angle between 0.2.degree. and about 10.degree. relative to a line oriented orthogonally to the intended direction of tape travel thereacross.“

The patent application was filed on October 27, 2015 (14/924,543).

Tape head with write pole having multiple layers superimposed
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,570,097) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., San Jose, CA, Engelen, Johan, Lantz, Mark A., and Rothuizen, Hugo E., Rueschlikon, Switzerland, for a “tape head with write pole having multiple layers superimposed in a direction perpendicular to the contact plane.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A tape head, configured to contact a magnetic tape, at the level of a contact plane, for writing to the tape, in operation is provided. The tape head includes a transducer, the latter being a write element, configured to write to the magnetic tape, in operation. The transducer includes a layered write pole, the latter comprising a set of two or more superimposed layers of distinct materials, the layers superimposed in a direction perpendicular to the contact plane. A saturation magnetization of each of two material layers of the set is between 1.0 to 2.3 Tesla. A contrast between the saturation magnetizations of the two material layers of the set is between 32% and 130%, the contrast defined as 100.times.(B.sub.s,max/B.sub.s,min-1), where B.sub.s,max and B.sub.s,min respectively denote a largest one and the smallest one of the saturation magnetizations of the two material layers of the set.“

The patent application was filed on February 12, 2016 (15/042,446).

Reconstructive error recovery procedure
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,564,171) developed by Katagiri, Takashi, Yokohama, Japan, Nylander-Hill, Pamela R., Tucson, AZ, and Tanaka, Keisuke, Tokyo, Japan, for a “reconstructive error recovery procedure, (ERP) using reserved buffer.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In one embodiment, a tape drive includes a reserved data buffer and logic integrated with and/or executable by a processor. The logic is configured to read a data set from a medium and store a first portion of the data set to the reserved data buffer in response to a determination that the first portion of the data set is correctable using C2 error correction code, (ECC). The logic is also configured to replace any stored row of a non-C2-correctable portion of the data set stored to the reserved data buffer with a corresponding row of the data set read from the medium in response to a determination that the stored row of the non-C2-correctable portion of the data set has an equal amount or more C1-correctable error therein than the corresponding row of the data set read from the medium.“

The patent application was filed on August 27, 2015 (14/838,317).

Controlling lateral position of tape head of magnetic tape drive
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,564,161) developed by Cherubini, Giovanni, Furrer, Simeon, Lantz, Mark A., and Pantazi, Angeliki, Rueschlikon, Switzerland, for a “method for controlling the lateral position of a tape head of a magnetic tape drive.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Embodiments include methods, systems and computer program products for controlling a lateral position of a tape head of a magnetic tape drive. Aspects include determining a first servo signal by reading position marks from a first servo band on a magnetic tape using a first sensor and determining a second servo signal by reading position marks from a second servo band on the magnetic tape using a second sensor. Aspects also include delaying the first servo signal relative to the second servo signal by a delay and calculating an average signal based on the first and the delayed second servo signal. Aspects further include determining servo information from the average signal indicative of a deviation of the lateral position of the tape head from an ideal lateral position of the tape head and controlling the tape head to adjust its lateral position such that the deviation is decreased.“

The patent application was filed on November 10, 2015 (14/937,028).

Servo compensation control in vibration environment
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,564,160) developed by Bui, Nhan X., Tucson, AZ, Pantazi, Angeliki, Thalwil, Switzerland, and Taketomi, Tomoko, Kanagawa, Japan, for a “servo compensation control in a vibration environment.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Methods, systems, and computer program product embodiments for improving track-follow control in a tape storage system, by a processor device, are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises, using an accelerometer to dynamically detect device vibration for determining whether to implement a vibration compensation control mechanism.“

The patent application was filed on July 24, 2015 (14/808,153).

Durable coating for magnetic tape recording media
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,558,776) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, Decad, Gary M., Palo Alto, CA, and Lo, Calvin S., Saratoga, CA, for a “durable coating for magnetic tape recording media.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A product such as a magnetic recording tape, according to one embodiment, includes a flexible magnetic media having a substrate, a magnetic recording layer having cobalt therein, and an at least partially polycrystalline coating above the magnetic recording layer. A product according to another embodiment includes a flexible magnetic media having a substrate, a magnetic recording layer having cobalt therein, and coating above the magnetic recording layer. The coating includes a ceramic material.“

The patent application was filed on December 11, 2015 (14/967,073).

Magnetic tape servo format
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,552,841) developed by Bui, Nhan X., Tucson, AZ, Cherubini, Giovanni, Eleftheriou, Evangelos S., Rueschlikon, Switzerland, Hancock, Reed A., and Hutchins, Robert A., Tucson, AZ, for a “magnetic tape servo format allowing for increased linear tape density and systems thereof.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In one general embodiment, a magnetic recording tape includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an average stripe width of the bars is between about 1.0 micron and about 2.2 microns, where an average servo frame length of groups of the bars comprising a servo frame is between about 120 microns and about 180 microns. In another general embodiment, a system includes a head having at least one servo reader and an array of data transducers of a type selected from a group consisting of readers and writers, and a controller operative to selectively enable every other transducer of a particular type in the array in a first mode of operation, and operative to selectively enable every transducer of the particular type in the array in a second mode of operation.“

The patent application was filed on April 12, 2013 (13/862,278).

Tape header format
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,548,760) developed by Cideciyan, Roy D., Rueschlikon, Switzerland, Hutchins, Robert A., Tucson, AZ, Mittelholzer, Thomas, Zurich, Switzerland, and Tanaka, Keisuke, Tokyo, Japan, for a “tape header format having efficient and robust codeword interleave designation, (CWID) protection.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In one embodiment, a computer program product for providing header protection in magnetic tape recording includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable by a processor to cause the processor to: calculate or obtain, by the processor, codeword interleave designation, (CWID) parity for all CWIDs in a codeword interleave, (CWI) set header, the CWID parity including error correction coding, (ECC) parity, and store, by the processor, the CWID parity to a magnetic tape in one or more fields which are repeated for each CWI header in the CWI set header without using reserved bits in the CWI set header to store the CWID parity. Other systems and methods for providing header protection in magnetic tape recording are described in more embodiments.“

The patent application was filed on May 30, 2015 (14/726,522).

Detecting and compensating for external vibration in tape drive
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (9,548,077) developed by Harper, David H. F., Vail, AZ, and Swanson, David L., Tucson, AZ, for a “detecting and compensating for external vibration in a tape drive.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In one general embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes using, by the computer, a tape head and/or an actuator to detect the presence of external vibration. The method also includes selecting, by the computer, at least one frequency of interest, and using, by the computer, a discrete Fourier transform implemented as a Goertzel filter to determine a magnitude of the external vibration at the at least one frequency of interest. Compensation may optionally be applied to reduce an effect of the external vibration.“

The patent application was filed on December 7, 2015 (14/961,758).